Chapter 28

Les

He'd been right.His world greatly resembled a desert wasteland without Raelynn. She'd been gone for two days. Even with the text messages between them, the Ranch just seemed empty without her. Master Derek had given him more time than he'd needed while Raelynn was here but Les hadn't known what to do with himself since she'd gone home, so he was glad to be back to working.

He opened the drawer that he normally stored his stuff in while working and saw two eyes glowing at him. Reaching into the drawer, he pulled out a cardboard roll like the ones they sometimes used for toilet paper. It had two eye holes cut into it and something glowing inside the tube. As he turned it to inspect it, a slip of paper fell out. Les reached down for the paper and unfolded it.

It was a note with a tiny piece of a sapphire taped to it.

Dear Daddy,

The week we had was more precious than any jewel could ever be.

Love,

Rae-Rae

His breath caught in his throat and he wondered how she'd done it for a moment before he decided it didn't matter. He set the note on the desk and settled in to work. He spent the whole night reading the note over and over.

Raelynn

"We havesomeone coming in a few days. She's really been through it as far as I can tell. She's supposed to be released today or tomorrow from the hospital and should be headed straight here. Her name is Rosalie."

Raelynn listened as Diana spoke, but she couldn't keep her mind in the game. She missed her Daddy. Something felt off in her life since she'd returned from the Ranch. She knew what it was, she just didn't know how to fix it. They'd talked every day for the last three days but it wasn't enough.

Something inside Raelynn kept telling her she'd wasted enough time, but another part kept telling her that she had a life here in Texas. She didn't know which side to listen to.

Raelynn looked up sharply when two large men entered the room and said, "Raelynn, we have another resident for you." Raelynn hopped up from her seat and rushed to follow Rocky and Aiden, another member of Devil's Wrath MC. Meeting their new guest was a much better use of her time than contemplating the mess of her life.

Les

Another set of glowing eyes.He'd been finding them on his shift ever since he'd returned to work. All of them had a note from Raelynn inside. Each note referenced something they'd done during her visit. One had said he was hotter than any bonfire, another had said he was more fun than monkey bars, and yet another had said that no amount of crafting could make him a better Daddy, he was already perfect. He wasn't so sure he believed that one, though, since she wasn't here with him.

Les picked up the newest set of glowing eyes and pulled out the note.

Dear Daddy,

I only have one minor regret about my stay. I should have spent less time looking at the sunset and more looking at you. You're way more spectacular than even the best Montana sunset.

Love,

Rae-Rae

Les tucked the note into his pocket and continued to do his quick sweep for security. He was going to find out on his next call how she was managing to leave all these notes for him. And then he was going to take even more time off and go check out Texas. It was time to consider moving.